South Australia
Method of travel to work
On Census day 2016 in South Australia, 70.5% of people travelled to work in a private car, 7.0% took public transport and 3.8% rode a bike or walked. 4.4% worked at home.
South Australia's commuting statistics reveal the main modes of transport by which residents get to work. There are a number of reasons why people use different modes of transport to get to work including the availability of affordable and effective public transport options, the number of motor vehicles available within a household, and the distance travelled to work.
Commuting data is very useful in transport planning as it informs decision-makers about the availability, effectiveness and utilisation of local transport options, particularly when analysed with Residents Place of Work data and Car Ownership.
WARNING: Method of travel to work relates to Census day, which for the 2021 Census occurred during COVID-19 lockdowns for large parts of Australia. In lockdown, many occupations were required to work from home if possible, and some industries were closed, so people did not go to work. For this reason, these categories may have increased, with corresponding declines in other methods of travel. Use the data with caution when comparing over time. For more details, please refer to the data notes.
Derived from the Census question:
'How did the person get to work on Tuesday, 10 August 2021?'
Employed persons aged 15 years and over
| Method of travel to work | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Australia - Employed persons (Usual residence) | 2016 | 2011 | Change | |||||
| Main method of travel | Number | % | Canberra % | Number | % | Canberra % | 2011 to 2016 | |
| Train | 14,000 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 12,120 | 1.6 | 0.0 | +1,880 | 16001 |
| Bus | 34,973 | 4.7 | 6.9 | 35,450 | 4.8 | 6.6 | -477 | 16003 |
| Tram | 2,760 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2,109 | 0.3 | 0.0 | +651 | 16005 |
| Ferry | 147 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 140 | 0.0 | 0.0 | +7 | 16006 |
| Taxi/ride-share | 1,375 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1,546 | 0.2 | 0.2 | -171 | 16007 |
| Car - as driver | 492,360 | 66.0 | 63.6 | 471,348 | 63.8 | 62.4 | +21,012 | 16009 |
| Car - as passenger | 34,006 | 4.6 | 6.0 | 39,172 | 5.3 | 7.0 | -5,166 | 16011 |
| Truck | 4,509 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 5,844 | 0.8 | 0.7 | -1,335 | 16013 |
| Motorbike | 3,442 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 4,033 | 0.5 | 0.9 | -591 | 16015 |
| Bicycle | 7,453 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 7,471 | 1.0 | 2.4 | -18 | 16017 |
| Walked only | 20,698 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 23,646 | 3.2 | 4.2 | -2,948 | 16019 |
| Other | 11,002 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 10,831 | 1.5 | 1.2 | +171 | 16021 |
| Worked at home | 32,678 | 4.4 | 3.1 | 30,886 | 4.2 | 2.7 | +1,792 | 16023 |
| Did not go to work | 80,078 | 10.7 | 9.6 | 84,531 | 11.4 | 10.7 | -4,453 | 16025 |
| Not stated | 6,639 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 10,225 | 1.4 | 1.0 | -3,586 | 16027 |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 746,120 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 739,352 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +6,768 | |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing (opens a new window) 2011 and 2016. Compiled and presented by .id (opens a new window)(informed decisions).
(Usual residence data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Dominant groups
In 2016, there were 51,880 people who caught public transport to work (train, bus, tram or ferry) in South Australia, compared with 534,317 who drove in private vehicles (car – as driver, car – as passenger, motorbike, or truck).
Analysis of the method of travel to work of the residents in South Australia in 2016, compared to Canberra, shows that 7.0% used public transport, while 70.5% used a private vehicle, compared with 7.1% and 69.6% respectively in Canberra.
The major differences in persons between the method of travel to work of South Australia and Canberra were:
- A larger percentage of persons who travelled by car (as driver) (66.0% compared to 63.6%)
- A larger percentage of persons who travelled by train (1.9% compared to 0.2%)
- A smaller percentage of persons who travelled by bus (4.7% compared to 6.9%)
- A smaller percentage of persons who walked only (2.8% compared to 4.5%)
Emerging groups
The number of employed people in South Australia increased by 6,768 between 2011 and 2016.
The largest changes in the method of travel to work by resident population in South Australia between 2011 and 2016 were for those nominated:
- Car - as driver (+21,012 persons)
- Car - as passenger (-5,166 persons)
- Did not go to work (-4,453 persons)
- Not stated (-3,586 persons)